Gun laying mechanism



March 2, 1943.l v. ULRICH ETAL GUN LAYING- MECHANISM Filed Dec. 2, 1'938 k llali nel Patented Mar. 2, 1943 UNITED STATES.y PATENT OFFICEk GUN LAYING MECHAN ISM Victor Ulrich, Bad Cannstatt, and Richard Diener, Berlin-Reinickendorf, Germany; vested in the Alien Property Custodian Application December 2, 1938, Serial No. 243,640

6 Claims.

With known gun laying mechanisms which are adjustable to eiect diierent laying speeds, the gun rayer, when changing from coarse to iine adjustment, or vice-versa, must interrupt the laying movements. If he uses one hand for the traversing or training gear and the other for the elevating gear, he must remove his hand from one oi the laying mechanisms when he wants to change from one laying speed to the other. .As a result there occur interruptions in the gun laying operations, and these interruptions, in circumstances when it is necessary to change Irequenily from coarse to iine adjustment or Viceversa cause undesirable loss of time and hinder the gunner.

According to the invention this discontinuity in the laying operations is avoided by making it possible for the hand controlling a laying movement simultaneously to manipulate the device for changing over from one to another laying speed. This is eiected, according to the invention, by combining the handle for changing over from a high to a low speed and vice-versa with the handle for controlling the laying movement in such a manner that the change from one laying speed to the other can be carried out without releasing either of the controls. In this case the member on the laying handle which serves to control the speed of laying is operatively connected with a device for locking the laying mechanism, so that when the handle is gripped the locking device of the laying mechanism is automatically released.

The handle for enabling the speed of laying to be changed from one rate to another may be in the form of a spring pressed lever pivotally aofmounted in or on the handle. Such a lever has to be held in operative position by the exercise of a certain amount of linger pressure against the spring, so that in course of time the laying operations may become irksome and fatiguing.

This additional hampering eiect during the laying operations can be avoided according to a further feature of the invention by designing the control handle as a longitudinally displaceable hand-grip casing which is held positively in one operative position or the other by a locking device, ior example a toggle. In this case the handgrip casing provided with coupling dogs mounted directly thereon, can itself form a coupling member for eiecting changes in the laying speeds. It is. however, preferable to utilise the toggle, designed as a snap-action or spring-controlled toggle, which as a result of a longitudinal displacement of the handle moves from a position of rest to one side or the other, to actuate a couplingV member which produces the change in the speed of laying.

One example of construction of a gun-laying machine according to the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which- Fig. 1 is a sectional plan View illustrating the invention applied to a traversing or training gear, while Figs, 2 and 3 are sectional views showing two positions of a modied arrangement.

As shown in Fig. 1, a bearing flange I of the gun laying mechanism is securely connected with a part 2 of the upper gun carriage which is piv-r otallv mounted for a swinging movement from side to side while atraversing wheel 3 is securely connected with the lower carriage. With such an arrangement, the gunner invariably remains behind the gun and must follow its traversing movement, but should the converse arrangement be'adopted by connection of the bearing flange I with the lower carriage and the Wheel 3 with the upper carriage, a stationary laying device can be obtained.

The bearing ange I carries a locking plate 4 which is provided with recesses 5. The hub of the bearing flange accommodates the hollow hub of a spur-wheel 'I by means of a needle roller .bearing 6, which hub houses the bearing pin 8 of a handwheel 8. The spur wheel 'I and the hand-wheel are axially fixed relatively to each other and relatively to the hub of the bearing ange I by suitable supporting shoulders, intermediate discs, nuts and the like.

To the toothed flange of the spur wheel l there -is riveted a toothed wheel 9, while on the end of the hub of the wheel 1 which protrudes from the hub of the bearing flange I there is keyed a pinion It which meshes with the traversing wheel 3.

The hand wheel 8 has a hollow crank pin IIV on which is mounted a hand-grip I2 which is secured against axial displacement by means of a pin I3. In the hollow crank pin II of the wheel 8 is a splined wheel hub I6 which is adapted to rotate in the hand-grip I2 by means of a bearing consisting of a bush I4 and rollers I5, the teeth on the wheel of the hub I6 meshing with those on the toothed wheel 9. The hub I6 slidably accommodates and is splined to a wheel axle I'I, the teeth on the wheel of which can be brought into mesh either with the teeth I' of the fixed bearing flange I or with the teeth I of the spur wheel 7. position by a spring I8' inserted between the axle I'l and the hub I6, the stroke of whichis lim ited by an abutment I1 of the axle |1-. By means-v f- The axle II is biased to the rst I thrusts the lever I9 into an angular` positionrelatively to the handle I2, in such a manner that a pinion 23, driven by a toothed segment 22 on the lever I9 when the lever is rocked on the pivot 28. The pinion 23 meshes with teeth on the rear end of the rack I8, and when the lever I9Y is inA the outer position shown in Fig. 1 the bolt isf in its forward or left hand position engaging one of;l

the recesses 5 in the locking plate 4.

With the lever I9 there also co-operates a pawl 25 which is mounted on the handle and isY subjected to the influence of a spring 24. This pawl has an abutment 25 which determines a first coupling position of the lever I9 in which the rack I8 is withdrawn from the locking plate 4 and so unlocks the gun laying machine. Y When the locking bolt is in the first coupling position it has no influence on the axle I1. VThe teeth on the wheel of the latter thus remain in mesh with the teeth I' of the bearing iiange I, so that during the laying movement, the wheel of the axle I1 rolls on the bearing flange E. The hub I9 is thereby moved about the axis of the ange I and the teeth on the wheel of the hub I5 therefore rotate the spur wheel 1, with the pinion I rmly keyed on its hub of the latter, at a speed which is much lower than that of the crank pin I I, the hub I6, spur Wheel 1, and teeth I thus forming a transmission of low velocity ratio.

If it is desired to cause the gun to moverapidly through a wide range of laying movement, then, with the palm, or, in the case of a horizontally disposed laying wheel, with, maybe, the thumb, of the hand holding therhandle I2, the pawl 25 is thrust inwards againstthe action of its spring 24, until the back I9 of the lever passes behind the projection 25. Then the lever I9, the spring 2l being further compressed, can be moved deeper into the recess in the handle I2. During this movement, the toothed segment 22 on the lever I9 turns the pinion 2'3 meshing with it and also the rack I8, through a distance which moves the axle I1 sok that the teeth on its wheel move from the teeth l of the bearing flange I into mesh with the teeth 1 on the spurwheel 1. The drive to the hub E-is now direct, the hub I6, teeth 1', and teeth I forming second transmission of higher velocity ratio. Upon returning to ne adjustment, i. e., the slower rate of laying, the handholding the handle relaxes its grip on the lever I9 until the latter swings out over the projection 25' of the pawl 25. In accordance with this movement the rack I8 is thrust forward followed by the axle I1 under the inuence of the spring I8'.

pawl 25, the spring 24 thrusts the pawl back, so that when the lever I9 is again gripped tightly, the ne adjustment is again obtained.

If during the transfer from coarse adjustment to line adjustment the teeth on the axle I1 do not immediately align with the gaps between the teeth I', during the next laying movement they will be meshed therein automatically by the spring I8 as will be appreciated.

In the form of construction shown in Figs. 2

and 3, the hand wheel 8', designed as a housing for the laying mechanism, has, 2 guide for.

when the' lever I9 has released the projection 25 of thel control bar or coupling member 21 which has lugs 21sand 21h forming coupling means with the mechanism in the hand-wheel housing 8 which is provided to adjust for a high or a low laying speed. The bar 21 and lugs 21a, 2`1b constitute a sliding gear shift member for the two speed gun laying mechanism, not shown, arranged in thehousing 8, which mechanism includes any known change speed gear transmission of the type operable by a sliding member, for example a change speed gear transmission of the diierential type, dilerent gears of which co-operate respectively with the lugs 21a, 21h of the bar 21 to change the transmission ratio. 1,5., In a recess 21cvin the control bar there engages u a nose 28a of a three-armed lever 28 which is pivotally mounted in the interior of the hollow handle II and has another nose 28h which protrudes through a slot in the hollow handle I I into a notch j291, provided between a grip member 29 slidably mounted on the handle II and a threaded bush 29a. The end 28e of the lever 28 is jointedly connected with a sliding spring pressed thimble 26 guided in a pivotally mounted bearing `2F59- and. is loaded by a helical spring 26h.

If it is desired to pass from the control position shown in Fig` 2f into that shown in Fig. 3, then, during the laying operation, the grip member 29 is thrust towards the hand-wheel 8 until, after passing the dead-centre position of the toggle joint pin between the lever 28 and the spring box 26, in which position the spring 25h is compressed most strongly, the parts are moved by the spring 26h into the position shown in Fig. 3 35 so that the bar 21 is moved into the other coupling position. When the grip member 29 is thrust outwardsthe opposite occurs.

If during change from one laying speed to another the lugs 21 or 21h do not come into engage- 40f;ment immediately with the co-operating members, then, when the spring Zlib is tensioned, the.

parts 29 and 28 remain swung out somewhat beyond the dead centre position until the position ofthe co-operating members, when therotation 15g-,of the hand-wheel is initiated, permits an automatic engagement to occur under the pressure of the spring 26h.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention and in 50,-,what manner the same is to be performed, we

declare that what we claim is:

1. GunY laying mechanism comprising, means for imparting gun laying motion, a manually movable member for actuating said means, a

:S5-.handle rotatably mounted on said manually movk able member inV such a manner as to remainl stationary within the grasp of the gunner during4 operationA ofsaid member, a i'lrst transmission between said-means and said manually movable oumember, `ad second f transmission between said means and-.said manually movable member, the second transmission having a different velocity ratio as compared withsaid `irst transmission,`

and amanual control device for selectively bring- 65,ing eitherof-said transmissions into operatiom including means for locking the gun laying motion imparting means in a position to which it has been set and means for operatively connecting the Ymanual control'device to said means for,

v"5 `nfwvable member in. SuQh a manner as i0 remain stationary within the grasp of the gunner during operation of said member, a rst transmission between said means and said manually movable member, a second transmission between said means and said manually movable member, the second transmission having a different velocity ratio as compared with said first transmission, a coupling member in said manually movable member having three operative positions determining respectively operative engagement of said first and second transmissions and locking the gun laying motion imparting means, and amanual control device for selectively bringing said coupling member into any of said positions, said control device being mounted on said handle in a position to be grasped along therewith and operated without change of grip but with increased pressure simultaneously with the operation of said manually movable member.

3. Gun laying mechanism comprising, means for imparting gun laying motion, a manually movable member for actuating said means, a handle rotatably mounted on said manually movable member in such a manner as to remain stationary Within the grasp of the gunner during operation of said member, a irst transmission between said means and said manually movable member, a second transmission between said means and said manually movable member, the second transmission having a different velocity ratio as compared with said rst transmission, a coupling member in said manually movable member having two operative positions determining respectively operative engagement of said rst and second transmissions, and a manual control device for selectively bringing said coupling member into either position, including means for locking the gun laying motion imparting means in a position to which it has been set and means for operatively connecting the manual control device to said means for locking the gun laying motion imparting means.

4. Gun laying mechanism, comprising means for imparting gun laying motion, a manually movable member for actuating said means, a handle rotatably mounted on said manually movable member in such a manner as to remain stationary with the grasp of the gunner during operation of said member, a first transmission between said means and said manually movable member, a second transmission between said means and said manually movable member, the second transmission having a diierent velocity ratio as compared with said first transmission, a coupling member in said manually movable member having two operative positions determining respectively operative engagement of both said transmissions, and a manual control device for selectively bringing said coupling member into either position including means for locking the gun laying motion imparting means in a position to which it has been set and means for operatively connecting the manual control device to said means for locking the gun laying motion imparting means.

5. Gun laying mechanism, comprising means for imparting gun laying motion, a manually movable member for actuating said means, a handle rotatably mounted on said manually movable member in such a manner as to remain stationary with the grasp of the gunner during operation of said member, a rst transmission between said means and said manually movable member, a second transmission between said means and said manually movable member, the second transmission having a different velocity ratio as compared with said rst transmission, a coupling member in said manually movable member having two operative positions determining respectively operative engagement of both said transmissions, and a manual control device for selectively bringing said coupling member into either position including a lever pivotally mounted in the handle forming part of the manually movable actuating member, said lever being operatively connected to the coupling member and means biasing said lever to normally hold the latter in the locking position.

6. Gun laying mechanism, comprising means for imparting gun laying motion, a manually movable member for actuating said means, a rst transmission between said means and said manually movable member, a second transmission between said means and said manually movable member, the second transmission having a different velocity ratio as compared with said first transmission, a coupling member in said manually movable member having two operative positions determining respectively operative engagement of both said transmissions, and a manual control device for selectively bringing said coupling member into either position including means for locking the gun laying motion imparting means in a position to which it has been set and means for operatively connecting the manual control device to said means for locking the gun laying motion imparting means.

VICTOR ULRICH. RICHARD DIENER. 

